Improvement in turbine water-wheels



2 Sheet s-Sheet I.

wel:

We r J S RECHARD Turbine Water-Wheel.

Patented Sept. 30,1879.

2 sheets-shaken 2. J. S. REGHARD. Turbine Water-Wheel.

No. 220,034. Patented Sept. 30,1879.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN S. REOHARD, OF YORK, PENNSYLVANIA.-

IMPROVEMENT IN TURBINE WATER-WHEELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 220,034, datedSeptember 30, 1879; application filed June 30, 1879.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Beit known that I, J oEN S. REGHARD, of York, in the county of York andState of Pennsylvania, have invented new and valuable Improvements inTurbine Water-Wheels; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the construe tion and operation-of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a partof this specification, and to the letters and figures of referencemarked thereon.

Figure l of the drawings is arepresentation of a perspective view of myimproved waterwheel. Fig. 2 is a central sectional view. Fig. 3 is aperspective view of the improved gate. Fig. 4 is an under-side 'View ofthe cam-ring, showing only one gate in" position. Fig. 5 is a bottomview of the base-plate.

This invention relates to certain improvements in the construction ofwater-wheels, especially of that class known as turbine, which rest onthe floor of a pen-stock 5' and they consist, principally, inthe novelconstruction of a casing or frame for the inward-now turbine water-wheelcomposed of are-enforced bottom plate with a series of cavities orrecesses on its under surface to receive the nuts of thefastening-bolts, a spider for supporting the wheelspindle, a stationaryrecessed crown-plate, a slidin g cam-ring for operating the journaledgates, a series of columns interposed between thc crown and bottomplates, and a plurality of non-corrosive bolts 5 also, in the novelconstruction of a bottom or base plate adapted to rest on the floor of apen-stock; also, in the combination, with a stationary crown-plate, of acam-ring having an inwardly overlapping flange protecting theintervening joint, and a series of cam-faces acting directly on thejournaled gates; also, in the novel construction of the curved gates;and, finally, in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will behereinafter more fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

The object of my invention is to simplify the construction of the parts,and have the fewest parts possible which shall be eifective inoperation, doing the work as well as, if not better and quicker than,ordinary wheels of this class.

By the novel construction and arrangement of parts in my improved wheelI overcome and obviate a great many of the difficulties experienced inwheels of this class now in use.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, theletter A represents the case propell of the turbine wheel, consistin gof the bottom plate B, spider C, crownplate D, and hub E, with a seriesof columns, F, preferably movable, arranged between the bottom and crownplates to sustain the parts to each other. Immediately abovethecrownplate on the hub E is arranged a hub having a series of arms, H,extending radially to a ring, I, located at the outer end of thecrownplate.

The hub, radial arms, and ring may all be united by casting, or the ringmay be bolted or riveted to the arms.

The upper surface of the ring is provided with a raised segment of arack, K, which may 'be bolted thereto or cast therewith to engage with apinion, J, mounted on the upper surface of the crown-plate of the wheel.Theunder side of this ring I is made with aplurality of recesses,terminating at the forward and rear surfaces in cam-faces a,substantially as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. These recesses do notextend entirely through the ring, as they are intended only as mediumsfor operating the pivoted gates. The inner diameter of the ring, nowcalled cam-ring, I, is of the same diameter, practically, as theouterdiameter of the crown-plate, and is provided with an overhanging lip orinwardly-projecting ange, b, extending into the crown-plate of the wheelto keep the joint clear and to protect the same from sand and rubbishwhich might gather on the wheel case. The outer diameter is intended tobe the same as the extreme outer di ameter of the gates when open. Thiscam-ring and crown-plate are even or iiush, or nearly so, on their lowerside, with the exception of the camrecesses or cavities corresponding tothe number of gates in the wheel.

The inner and under side next the shaft of the crown -plate iscircularly recessed at d, about the size in diameter as the wheelproper,(see Fig. 2,) to receive that portion of the wheel proper above thebuckets, and from the circle to its outer edge it is straight orhorizontal. The object of forming this circular recess is to obviate thetottering or shaking of that portion of the wheel adjacent to thecrownplate, and to give steadiness in the movements of the wheel.

M represents the gate, made of a curved shape, substantially as shown,and constructed with an enlargement or bulge, M, near its inner featherend, which is perforated to receive the securing-bolt, and a side lug,n, at its outer upper end, with a small pin pro jecting therefromupwardly. These gates are made as follows: A brass or othernoncorrosive. metal bushing or tube for each gate is arranged in themold at the point of enlargement after thc pattern has been removed, theflask closed. and the metal (cast-iron) poured in the usual manner, sothat the metal shall surround the bushing for the pivot. By this mode ofmanufacturing the gates I do away with the cores, and cast the gate, theside lug, and vertical pin in one piece.

The pivots used in connection with these gates should be made of brassor other noncorrosive metal, so that the gates will work freely and notbind.

The gates are so arranged between the bottom and crown plates of thewheel, and so piv- Oted that their inner ends shall be a little beyondthe center of pressure.

The fastening bolt or pivot, forming the pintle upon which the gateswork, is passed through the crown-plates, gates, and bottoln plates, andsecured to the under side of the bottom plate by nuts or otherequivalent means resting in recesses. This method of connecting orpivoting the gates upon their bearings should be such that their outerends when open shall not extend beyond the outer edge of the cam-rino.

The pins or studs c on the upper surface of the gates, near their outerends, rest loosely in the recesses of the cani-ring, so that when thecam-ring is moved in one direction by means of the pinion and segmentalrack or other mechanical means, the cam-surfaces of the cam-ring willcome in contact with the studs ofthe gates and open them. 'hcn thecam-ring is moved in the opposite direction half its travel, the gate isfree to close by the pressure of the water, thus making the gates selfor automatic closing to that extent, or the return-stroke may becompleted, causing the cam-surface to come in contact with the studs ofthe gates and compel them to close.

The upper surface of the bottom plate B of the case is straight orperfectly plain, and the outer edge may be rounding; but thc undersurface ofthe plate is re-enforced by the thickness c and thefilling-pieces f, the latter being preferably connected with thecircular vertical ange h of the plate. By 11e-enforcing the plate inthis manner a series of recesses or cavities is formed to receive thenuts of the connectingbolts, so that no projections shall extend beyondthe lower surface to interfere with the base plate resting snugly on theiioor of the pen-stock.

The spider C is constructed in the usual manner and secured to thecircular flange h of the bottom plate by means of bolts. The otiice ofthe re-enforcing pieces c and j', forming a component or integral partofthe bottom plate, is, when the position of the columns is consideredas heilig in the same vertical plane, to rest on the iioor of thepen-stock, so that the pressure of water, and curved in the direction ofthe movement of the water will have no tendency to spring or strain thebottom plate.

The wheel I have shown, and which l prefer to use, consists ofthe hub1', conical crown It, and buckets I. These buckets are secured to theconical crown by means of bolts, or they may be cast solid therewith, soas to leali a little forward from a radial line in the direction of themovement of the water, and curved in the direction of the movement ofthe water. The lower end of the shaft carrying the wheel is stepped onthe wooden pin of the spider.

By the foregoing construction it will be seen that the bottom plate isstrengthened and will have no tendency to spring or yield under thepressure of the water; and also, it will be seen that the gates are muchlonger from their pivots to the outer ends, thus making a longwater-guide; and again, that the studs on the gates are short and comein close proximity' to the cam-rin g, obviating any twisting tendency ofthe gates in their duty, and enabling the wllole series to beimmediately and simultaneously operated without any tendency toderangement of the parts.

I am aware that non-corrosive metals have heretofore been used injournal-bearings; but I am not aware of any turbine water-wheel prior tomy invention that has its gate-bearings and connecting-bolts made of anon-cor rosive metal by which corroding and binding of the gates arematerially obviated, as in the wheel described herein.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. The casin g or frame for a turbine waterwheel to rest on the Hoor ofa pen-stock, consisting of the re-enforced bottom plate B, with a seriesof cavities, spider C, stationary recessed crown-plate D, slidingcam-ring I, with inwardly-overlappin g flange b, columns F, and thenon-corrosi-vc connecting-bolts, all ar ranged as shown and described.

2. The bottom plat-e of a casing for a turbine-wheel, having its undersurface provided with a series of recesses or cavities arranged betweenthe filling-pieces to receive the nuts of the connecting-bolts, asdescribed, and for the purposes set forth.

3. In an inward-flow turbine water-wheel, the cam-ring having aninwardly-overlapping flange, and a series ot' cam-faces on the undersurface, in combination with the crown-plate, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

4. The curved gate hereinbefore described for a turbine water-wheel,constructed with the enlargement or bulge near its feathered end for thevertical perforation and non-corrosive bushing,.the side lug at itsouter upper end, and a pin or stud extending upwardly from the side lug,as shown and described.

5. In a water-Wheel, the combination of a series of gates having theirworkin g-bearings formed of a non-corrosive metal, and a correspondingseries of bolts formed of a similar non-corrosive metal, passing throughthe bearupper surfaces small pins, of V an overhangin g sliding ring,independent of the crownplate, having on its under surface a series ofcamrccesses, corresponding to the number of gates, to regulate the gatesfor the admission of water to the wheel, as described.

8. The improved turbine water-wheel hereinbefore described, cpnsisting,essentially, of the re-enforced bottom plate, B, with a series ofcavities, spider C, stationary recessed crownplate D, sliding cam-ringI, a seriesof gates, M, journaled directly to the crown and bottomplates, and a conical crown-wheel, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JOHN `s. REGHARD.

Witnesses:

JOHN W. WALTER, W. B. G. RAMBO.

